Alumni Profile
“Hunter provided a strong foundation in both the theory and tools of planning, but what proved most valuable was the program’s perspective on applied practice. That hands-on experience shaped how I approach my work today—using planning not just as analysis or regulation, but as a way to build local capacity and help communities make informed, equitable decisions about their future.”
Ken Comia (BA ’07, MUP ’09) was born and raised in Chicago and its suburbs, and moved to New York City after one year studying in Chicago, drawn by the energy of the city and the opportunity to study planning at Hunter College. While earning both his undergraduate BA with a major in Urban Studies and Political Science and sequentially a Master of Urban Planning, Ken gained hands-on experience through internships and positions with public agencies, including The Bronx Borough President’s Office, New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, focusing on neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, and transportation services and operations. These early experiences gave him a strong foundation in community engagement and the policies that shape equitable development.
After graduating from Hunter, Ken spent his final year working in New York as a Community Construction Liaison, in the private sector consulting with the City’s Department of Design and Construction, bridging communication between residents, city agencies, and major infrastructure projects, namely the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Project.
Ken later took on planning roles in Boston and Central Florida, broadening his expertise in community development, land use, and regional resilience. These experiences gave him a unique perspective on how different regions balance growth and sustainability while strengthening collaboration among municipalities, mostly working in a regulatory space aligning prospective development and land use code.
Returning to Massachusetts after living in Florida, Ken worked as the first town planner for the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts which has led him to his current position serving as Director of the Land Use & Environment Department at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) in Western Massachusetts, overseeing regional planning services across 43 municipalities. His portfolio includes housing production, zoning diagnostics, climate resilience, clean energy, and outdoor recreation initiatives. He is a certified planner (AICP), serves as Vice President (and incoming President) of the American Planning Association–Massachusetts Chapter, and teaches at the Conway School of Landscape Design, mentoring emerging planners as they prepare to take on the challenges of the next generation.
Outside of his professional planning career, Ken produces musical theatre with his partner through their nonprofit organization—demonstrating his belief that both planning and the arts bring people together to imagine and build stronger communities.
“Hunter provided a strong foundation in both the theory and tools of planning, but what proved most valuable was the program’s perspective on applied practice. That hands-on experience shaped how I approach my work today—using planning not just as analysis or regulation, but as a way to build local capacity and help communities make informed, equitable decisions about their future.”
Ken Comia (BA ’07, MUP ’09) was born and raised in Chicago and its suburbs, and moved to New York City after one year studying in Chicago, drawn by the energy of the city and the opportunity to study planning at Hunter College. While earning both his undergraduate BA with a major in Urban Studies and Political Science and sequentially a Master of Urban Planning, Ken gained hands-on experience through internships and positions with public agencies, including The Bronx Borough President’s Office, New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, focusing on neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, and transportation services and operations. These early experiences gave him a strong foundation in community engagement and the policies that shape equitable development.
After graduating from Hunter, Ken spent his final year working in New York as a Community Construction Liaison, in the private sector consulting with the City’s Department of Design and Construction, bridging communication between residents, city agencies, and major infrastructure projects, namely the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Project.
Ken later took on planning roles in Boston and Central Florida, broadening his expertise in community development, land use, and regional resilience. These experiences gave him a unique perspective on how different regions balance growth and sustainability while strengthening collaboration among municipalities, mostly working in a regulatory space aligning prospective development and land use code.
Returning to Massachusetts after living in Florida, Ken worked as the first town planner for the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts which has led him to his current position serving as Director of the Land Use & Environment Department at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) in Western Massachusetts, overseeing regional planning services across 43 municipalities. His portfolio includes housing production, zoning diagnostics, climate resilience, clean energy, and outdoor recreation initiatives. He is a certified planner (AICP), serves as Vice President (and incoming President) of the American Planning Association–Massachusetts Chapter, and teaches at the Conway School of Landscape Design, mentoring emerging planners as they prepare to take on the challenges of the next generation.
Outside of his professional planning career, Ken produces musical theatre with his partner through their nonprofit organization—demonstrating his belief that both planning and the arts bring people together to imagine and build stronger communities.